Collapsible hatbox



Nov. 1, 1927, 1,647,679l

L. H. WILLIAMS COLLAPSIBLE HAT BOX medl April 2o, 1925 K Eicl. Z5 v INVENTUR. Lou/5E H. W/L/AM5 Patented Pilota l, 1927.

LGUISE H. WLLIAIVS, OF LGS ANGELES, CALFCRNIA.

COLLAPSEBLE HATBOX.

Application filed April 20, 1925. Serial No. 24,864.

My invention relates generally to collapsible containers and particularly, although not necessarily to hat boxes.

The purpose of my invention is the provision o f a hat box of extremely simple and inexpensive construction which is readily collapsible when not in use to occupy a minimum space and thus facilitate storage and shipment7 and when extended functions as the usual hatbox to eilectively protect the contents from damage.

l will describe only one form of collapsible hat box en'ibodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features there of in claims.

ln the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing in perspective one form of hatbox embodying my invention in extended position and Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the hat box shown in Fig'- ure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail perspective of the hinged connection between the sections of any one of the uprights in thel hat box shown in the preceding views.

Figure e is a perspective view ofthe frame of a hat box in collapsed position.

Referring specilically to the drawings. in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the views, my invention in its present embodiment comprises a frame preferably formed of wire and including a pair of rigid members 15 and 16 connected at intervals by uprights 17 which are capable of occupying an extended position as shown in Figure 1 to maintain the rigid members in spaced relation, or in folded position as shown in Figure 4 wherein the rigid members are collapsed one upon the other.

ln the present instance the rigid members inwardly and thus permit the sections to fold inwardly upon each other as illustrated in Figure 4.

In conjunction with the frame, a cover 23 is provided formed of flexible material such as cloth, leather or the like. This cover is constructed to envelope the frame and is secured to the rings 15 and 16 by stitching or other suitable means so as to permit the collapsing of the frame and the proper folding of the cover between the rings of the fra-me. ln the extended position of the frame, the cover is taut thereon so as to form a container or box in which hats or other articles are adapted to be stored. The upper portion of the cover is formed with an opening 2l which 'can be constricted by means of a draw string 25. n

From the foregoing construction taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it will be manifest that I have provided a collapsible hat box in the extended position of which it functions as a container to effectively protect hats placed therein and to facilitate transportation of the latter, and when in collapsed position it occupies minimum space to facilitate storage and transporting thereof.

.Although I have herein shown and described only one form of collapsible hat box embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirt and scope of the appended claims'.

lli/That I claim is:

1. A hat box comprising a frame including a pair of spaced annular members and foldable uprights connecting the members at circumferentially spaced intervals, each upright comprising a pair of sections, With the inner end of one section bifurcated and the inner end of the other section reduced in thickness to be received in the bifurcated end, with a pin extending through the two ends for pivotally connecting the two to permit inward folding of the sections7 and a lug on the reduced end to engage the bifurcated end for limiting the pivotal movement of the sections outwardly so that they will ce -vertically alined when in extended position` and the outer ends of the sections being looped on the annular members to provide soy pivotal connections between the uprights and rneinbers to allow the uprights to oecupy extended or folded position, and a exible Cover enveloping the frame.

2. A hat box as embodied in oiaiin l, wherein the cover has portions stitched to the members so that When the frame is in eX- tended position the side and bottoni of the @over will be taut, the top of the cover being formed With an opening and With a draw string in the Wall of the opening for drawing the top tant on the fra-ine.

LOUISE H. WiLLIAMs. 

